Abundant Hope - by Andy Petrie

Abundant Hope

Andy Petry
Landing Director for
Celebrate Recovery

A while back I came across a passage of scripture that struck me. I knew it was true, but it was hard to see clearly in the midst of life’s hurts and challenges. Psalm 66:8-12 NIV says this:
 
Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs...we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.
 
Oftentimes in my pain I don’t always know how to praise God well, even though I confidently know that He’s working in ways I can’t always see. Pain knocks us back and crushes any illusion of control we might have. And it’s easy to question where God is when our circumstances go haywire.  But God is always working, and in the midst of it He upholds us, He keeps our feet from slipping.  

Hardship is where God does his refining work – just like the process of how metal is heated and melted to remove impurities. And God’s refining work always yields good fruit in our lives as we lean into it. Have you seen it?
 
Every week now I see and hear the gratitude on the faces of those here that are so grateful for a safe place. I see the chips that are picked up and the high fives we share. I watch people worship in a way that understands how much it means to sing to God together. And lives are being changed. Do you see it, too?!  Isn't it incredible?!  

We get to provide a safe place in times of hardship and of blessing, and what an honor it is. Your willingness to step into the mess with hurting people, and to also allow others to walk with you in your struggles is yielding a sweet season at CR.
 
No doubt we've all gone through fire and water and struggles, but God is bringing us to a sweet place of abundant hope.


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